The Jets should suspend Wilkerson for the rest of the season

The Daily News Live crew discusses Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson not traveling to play in New Orleans this Sunday due to tardiness.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Muhammad Wilkerson has no future with the Jets. He knows it and they know it. He'll be released long before his 2018 salary is guaranteed on March 16.

And really, there's no reason to wait that long anymore.

Wilkerson was punished by Jets coach Todd Bowles on Friday, after he showed up late -- very late -- to the team facility, according to a team source. Bowles immediately told the 28-year-old malcontent he wouldn't be traveling to New Orleans with the team for the game on Sunday. And according to one team source, his pseudo-suspension could last longer than that.

And it should. The Jets should essentially rid themselves of Wilkerson now by suspending him for the last three games of the season. He's clearly not happy. He's not having much of an impact. And he can't even bother showing up on time anymore.

So what's the point? Just end this failed marriage now.

Whatever the Jets decide to do next, the divorce is coming by March 16 -- the third day of the next league year. That's when Wilkerson's $16.75 million salary for 2018 becomes guaranteed. There is no chance of the Jets allowing that to happen -- as multiple team sources have confirmed multiple times. They already have enough buyers' remorse for the $36.75 million they've paid him the last two seasons.

What did the Jets get for that money? Headaches, mostly. This will be the third time in the last two seasons that Wilkerson has been benched for being late to team activities. Meanwhile, he's produced eight sacks in his last 28 games.

Even if it was just a football decision there's no way the rebuilding Jets would be crazy enough to pay him that money or let him count for $20 million against their 2018 cap (never mind the $32 million left on his contract in the two years after that). The Jets could cut him in March and immediately save $11 million in cap space. If they declare him a post-June 1 cut, the overall cap savings would balloon to $17 million.

That will be the easiest offseason decision Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has to make.

So why delay it? Clearly, Bowles has had it with Wilkerson -- who wasn't spotted at practice on Friday after he had already nearly missed the team's morning meeting. Just 11 days earlier, when he was discussing the last time Wilkerson was punished -- missing a quarter against the Chiefs for being late to a team meeting the day before - Bowles actually said he still considered Wilkerson a team leader.

Presumably he was biting hard through his tongue. And if he wasn't then, he sure is now.

This time, the Jets' coach didn't give many details on why Wilkerson wouldn't be coming to New Orleans, saying over and over that "I'm just worried about the guys going to the game, and I'm going to coach those 53 guys." But it was clear he was angry about having to discuss another problem with this so-called leader again.

Bowles also wouldn't say if he had made any decision on Wilkerson's status for the Jets' Christmas Eve game at home against the Los Angeles Chargers or their New Year's Eve finale in New England. At this point, though, what would make anyone think Wilkerson is going to change? His lateness has been chronic, according to a team source. There are many -- including teammates -- who think he's reached the point where he just doesn't care.

So end it now. Get rid of the distraction. Send a powerful message to the young team that rules apply to everyone, and anyone who gets in the way of the Jets' "One team, one goal" mantra is expendable. At this point, if Bowles made that announcement, Wilkerson's Jets teammates might stand and applaud.

This, by the way, is what Bowles said he told his team after the last time Wilkerson was benched, less than two weeks ago: "The biggest thing is we are family here, and sometimes families do different things. At the end of the day, you love them up, and you may be pissed off for a minute, and you get over it and move on."

That's a sweet sentiment, but it's pointless now. Wilkerson is leaving the family in three months anyway. There's no reason to let him stick around and ruin the holidays too. Tell him he can stay home, collect his checks (or not), and get ready for free agency.

Then Bowles can really be free to do what he said he planned to do: Coach the guys who are here.

What's next for the Jets this offseason?

Aug 12, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan reacts on the field before a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Armed with $90 million-plus in salary cap space and extra draft picks, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has been a busy man the last few days. He's reshaped his roster, reset the quarterback position, and possibly put his franchise in contention for the next few years.

Mike Maccagnan makes legacy-defining trade: He better be right

Ernie Accorsi knew back in 2004 that he would always be remembered as the GM that brought Eli Manning to the Giants. Whether it worked out or not, that would be his legacy, regardless of everything else he accomplished in his career.

That's the way it now is for Mike Maccagnan. He began to define his legacy as the Jets GM with the bold trade he made on Saturday to ship three second-round picks to Indianapolis to move up from 6 to 3 in the NFL draft. And in less than six weeks, on April 26, he will further define it when he picks the player he expects will be the Jets' long-awaited franchise quarterback.

Now he just better be right...

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Maccagnan's bold trade aims to solve Jets QB quandary

Jets acquire no. 3 pick in draft from Colts

Nov 2, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan on the sidelines before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

The Jets have spent years, even decades stuck in Quarterback Hell, in a never-ending search for an elusive franchise quarterback.

And Mike Maccagnan is serious about ending that run.

The Jets GM made the boldest move of his tenure on Saturday morning, making a stunning trade to move up even closer to the top of the 2018 NFL draft. He acquired the No. 3 overall pick from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the No. 6 overall pick, the Jets' two second-rounders (37th and 49th) and a second-rounder in 2019...

Here is the most up-to-date information on whom the Jets have added and lost during free agency, including contract details and salary cap information. The official signing period begins Wednesday at 4 p.m., so be sure to bookmark this page and check back for frequent updates.

Tyrann Mathieu, a player on the Jets' radar, has agreed to a deal with the Texans, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter is reporting the deal is worth one-year, $7 million for the Honey Badger.

The Jets were looking for some more help in their secondary, and even S Jamal Adams tried to recruit his LSU friend to New York.

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Daily News Live: Bowles, Maccagnan scour draft options at QB

Mar 16 | 6:51PM

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Jets aiming to draft a QB00:03:54

The Daily News Live panel discuss the Jets' quarterback options in this year's NFL Draft.

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Demario Davis surprised Jets 'didn't make me an offer'

Mar 16 | 10:30AM

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New York Jets inside linebacker Demario Davis against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)

Former Jets linebacker Demario Davis said he felt surprised New York never made him an offer in free agency before he signed with the New Orleans Saints.

"The shocking thing was the Jets didn't make me an offer, so that made my decision easy because all I had to do was look at the contenders," Davis said, according to the New Orleans Advocare's Rod Walker. "It would have been something to weigh."

Jets re-sign CB Morris Claiborne to one-year deal

Mar 15 | 9:10PM

New York Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne breaks up a touchdown attempt to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry in the second half at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)

The Jets have re-signed CB Morris Claiborne to a one-year, $7 million deal, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirms. The news was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Last season, Claiborne started and played in all but one of the Jets' games. The 28-year-old had one interception and eight passes defended, as well as 46 tackles. He was drafted 6th overall by the Cowboys in the 2012.

Claiborne returns to an improved secondary after the Jets signed CB Trumaine Johnson to a five-year, $72.5 million deal. Johnson is expected to be the team's no. 1 corner.

The Jets have signed K Cairo Santos, the team announced. The deal is one-year, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.

Santos, 26, endured an injury-riddled 2017. He injured his groin in preseason, kicked the first three games for the Chiefs before being placed on IR and released in September. He signed with the Bears in November, kicked in two games then was placed on IR again after re-injuring his groin. Between the two teams, he made four of his five field goal attempts.

For the first three years of Santos' career, he converted 84.3 percent of his field goal attempts overall and was 7 for 12 from 50 yards or more. Santos replaces the outgoing Chandler Catanzaro, who signed with the Buccanneers.

Santos was born in Brazil and first learned of American football when he came to St. Augustine, Florida as an exchange student before playing college football at Tulane. He's the first Brazilian to play in the NFL.

Analyzing the Jets' free-agent additions so far

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater drops back to pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) (Mike Roemer/AP)

The top priority for the Jets was absolutely clear: Find a franchise quarterback. End the decades-long search. That's why they went so hard after free agent Kirk Cousins.

But they couldn't sign him. And so their never-ending question at quarterback remains.

Though it's hardly their fault that Cousins chose a better situation in Minnesota over the future potential of the Jets, the quarterback situation still looms big over what has otherwise been an incredibly successful start to free agency for GM Mike Maccagnan and the Jets...

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Seferian-Jenkins signs two-year deal with Jaguars

The Jets had recently upped their offer to Seferian-Jenkins

Mar 15 | 4:35PM

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New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins catches a touchdown pass during the second half of their game against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium. The play was overturned on review for failure to maintain possession of the ball. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is leaving the Jets for the Jaguars, Seferian-Jenkins posted on Thursday while giving gratitude to the Jets. Seferian-Jenkins also visited with the Seahawks.

The deal is for two years and $10 million, and can be worth as much as $11 million, a source confirmed to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.

The Jets increased their offer to Seferian-Jenkins Tuesday night, according to Vacchiano. The original offer was $8 million for two years, with not much guaranteed.

Which players could Jets target to fill remaining holes?

By Bent | Mar 15 | 3:30PM

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Nov 2, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan on the sidelines before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Bent, theJetsBlog.comFollow on Twitter: Now that the first wave of free agency is over, we can start to take stock of the outstanding needs for the Jets and potential ways to address these in free agency.

Defensive End

Mike Maccagnan downplayed the need for defensive line help following the departure of Muhammad Wilkerson, but the team probably still needs to add a starting-level player to replace him...

It became official on Tuesday afternoon when McCown re-signed with the Jets, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The 38-year-old McCown returns on a one-year deal, according to an NFL source, that could pay him as much as $10 million.

The Jets officially announced the deal on Wednesday night.

And that is Part 2 of what SNY has reported is the Jets' Plan B at quarterback. Part 1 is signing 25-year-old Teddy Bridgewater -- and as SNY reported earlier on Tuesday, the Jets are currently engaged in contract talks with the soon-to-be-former Viking.

How does Avery Williamson fit in Jets' defensive system?

By Bent | Mar 14 | 12:00PM

Much of the attention surrounding the Jets' offseason moves so far has been centered around the quarterback position with the addition of Trumaine Johnson stealing most of the non-quarterback headlines. However, the Jets filled an important spot with the signing of former Titans linebacker Avery Williamson last night. Let's consider how well he fits into what the Jets typically like to do on defense.

On the face of it, this seems pretty straightforward; Williamson replaces Demario Davis as the team's Mike linebacker, and slides into his role. However, it might not be as simple as that.

Jets to sign Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday

After the Jets missed out on quarterback Kirk Cousins, the team is set to sign Teddy Bridgewater and bring back Josh McCown.

The Jets' Plan B at quarterback now officially stands for (Teddy) Bridgewater.

With the quarterback that the Jets desired (Kirk Cousins) heading to Minnesota, the Jets quickly turned their attention to Bridgewater on Tuesday and they are now expecting to sign him when the free-agent signing period opens on Wednesday, according to an NFL source.

The Jet Stream: Reaction to Cousins signing with Vikings

Mar 13 | 3:00PM

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Jonas Schwartz and Willie Colon are back for another edition of The Jet Stream podcast, where they discuss missing out on Kirk Cousins and the possibility of signing Teddy Bridgewater. Later, the guys talk about where GM Mike Maccagnan should focus his attention as the free agency period starts.

Could RB Dion Lewis fit in Jets backfield?

Jets among teams showing interest in the Patriot

Mar 13 | 2:40PM

The Jets are looking to add some running back help. And if they can take a key player away from the New England Patriots, even better.

They'd accomplish both if they're able to sign free agent Dion Lewis, whom they are interested in according to an NFL source. The 27-year-old Lewis is one of the top backs on the market, and the Patriots are trying to lure him back too.

Report: Kirk Cousins plans to sign three-year deal with Vikings

What do the Jets do now at QB?

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) rushes for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan/AP)

Kirk Cousins, the franchise quarterback the Jets coveted, will be signing with the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports. A team source confirmed that the Jets are expecting that to happen as soon as the signing period opens on Wednesday, and they are moving on with their Plan B.

Does Keenum-to-Broncos make Vikings favorite to land Cousins?

The first domino in the NFL's free-agent quarterback frenzy reportedly fell overnight, with veteran Case Keenum agreeing to sign with the Denver Broncos. He wasn't the biggest domino, of course. That's still Kirk Cousins, and he's still available.

But the Keenum-to-Denver news still could have a big impact on the offseason landscape. Here's a look at how it affects the Jets...

Cousins highlights quarterback frenzy in free agency

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) (Bill Kostroun/AP)

The Kirk Cousins sweepstakes officially opened at noon on Monday, and the Jets made it clear they are going to be in it. They are willing to pay a very high price to land their much-needed franchise quarterback.

Which lower-level free agents should Mike Maccagnan pursue?

By Bent | Mar 12 | 8:25PM

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown goes up for the ball over Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown but is unable to make a catch during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)

With free agency about to kick off and the "legal tampering" period well underway, speculation is rife as to which players the Jets will pursue. With their league-leading war chest of cap space, the Jets are going to be extremely active this offseason and should also look to make a series of lower-profile moves to bolster their depth.

Ideally, Mike Maccagnan would prefer to build a team through the draft, to spend time developing his own players, and then paying them before they hit the open market. Spending big in free agency isn't usually the most efficient way to rebuild a program.

But the reality is the Jets have more than $90 million of space under the $177.2 million salary cap, and Maccagnan plans to spend a lot of it...

Former Cowboys DE Benson Mayowa visits Jets Monday

Mar 12 | 9:43AM

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As the Jets gear up for free agency, they invited former Cowboys DE Benson Mayowa to East Rutherford on Monday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Mayowa began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks in 2013, where he played in just two games. However, his sophomore season saw him play in all 16 games with the Raiders. He collected 13 tackles and a sack that season.

For the past two seasons, though, Mayowa has been with Dallas working in their prolific pass-rushing corps. In 2016, he amassed 25 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and four run stuffs.

Baker Mayfield on meeting with Jets: 'It went smooth'

Mar 10 | 11:00AM

Baker Mayfield opened up about his meeting with the Jets at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine and said he was pleased with how it went.

Mayfield is a top prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft after finishing his 2017-18 season with 4,627 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the Sooners to the Rose Bowl, where he completed 23 of 35 passes for 287 yards while throwing two touchdowns and one interception in a 54-48 loss to Georgia...